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| Prof. Joash Amupitan |
Amupitan made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, in Abuja. He said adequate financial support is crucial for the commission to conduct credible elections and strengthen Nigeria's democratic process.
According to the INEC chairman, election management has become more demanding due to rising operational costs and the expanding responsibilities of the commission. He explained that contrary to public opinion, governorship elections often cost more to conduct than the presidential and National Assembly elections because of the extensive logistics, personnel deployment and other operational requirements involved.
He noted that INEC's responsibilities go beyond conducting elections. The commission also oversees continuous voter registration, political party registration, monitoring of party primaries, election-related litigation and the management of offices across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and all 774 local government areas. These responsibilities, he said, require consistent and improved funding.
Amupitan also raised concerns over the welfare of INEC employees, revealing that the commission has continued to lose experienced personnel due to poor remuneration and the search for better opportunities elsewhere. He stressed that improving staff welfare would help retain skilled workers, strengthen the commission's institutional capacity and improve the overall conduct of elections.
He further called for greater investment in technology, training and modern electoral infrastructure, saying these areas are essential to improving the efficiency, transparency and credibility of future elections.
Despite the funding challenges, the INEC chairman reaffirmed the commission's commitment to delivering free, fair and credible elections. He announced that preparations for the 2027 general elections are already underway, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections are expected to hold on February 6, 2027.
Amupitan also disclosed that INEC is preparing to conduct the Osun State governorship election on August 15, 2026, expressing confidence that the commission would build on the successes recorded in recent elections across the country.
Responding, RMAFC Chairman Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu commended INEC for its role in sustaining Nigeria's democracy despite numerous challenges. He acknowledged the financial demands associated with conducting elections and assured the commission of continued collaboration to strengthen electoral administration.
The meeting ended with both agencies expressing their commitment to working together to ensure that future elections are well-funded, transparent and credible, thereby deepening democratic governance in Nigeria.